JRL Calls for Shutdown on 7 Mar against Relocation of Faktoo to Udhampur Jail

Srinagar, Mar 04(KMW): Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) has condemned the “arbitrary and illegal” move of shifting Dr Muhammad Qasim Fakhtoo and Muhammad Shafi Shaerati and others in the middle of night clandestinely from Central Jail Srinagar to Udhampur and Hiranagar prisons. Terming the move as dictatorial and inhuman, the trio of SAS Geelani, Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz Umar said that “it is in total violation of the court orders reflecting the authorities revenge against the political prisoners.”

JRL said that shifting of Dr Fakhtoo and Dr Shaerati to Jammu prisons is a brazen violation of the orders of the double bench of J&K High Court that had stated that the duo can’t be shifted to any other place outside Srinagar. “Despite clear court orders, the ruling regime in violation of its own high court orders still shifted the duo from Srinagar Central Jail to Jammu to appease their masters in New Delhi, showing that court orders have no standings or value for them,” said the trio in a handout issued to the local press.

“Earlier, many Kashmiri prisoners who were lodged in Central Jail Srinagar were also shifted and lodged in various prisons in Jammu,” read the statement.

It further said: “Dr Fakhtoo recently completed 25 years in prison while as Dr Shariati also completed 15 years in jail. They said both the prisoners were suffering from multiple ailments due to their prolonged confinement and yet they were shifted to Jammu jails, causing a risk to their lives which is inimical to all humanitarian and democratic principles.”

The leadership said that “under the pretext of escape of one prisoner, endless miseries and hardships are being inflicted on hundreds of political prisoners and including shifting them to jails in Jammu.”

JRL made a “fervent” appeal to world rights organizations including Asia Watch, Amnesty International and other human rights bodies to “intervene into the grave violation of prisoner’s rights taking place in Kashmir and take steps to ensure all prisoners are brought back to Valley and released without any pre-condition.” The leadership urged the people of Kashmir to observe a complete strike on Wednesday (March 7).

Faktoo’s party Muslim Deeni Mahaz too has strongly condemned the relocation of the prisoners from Srinagar Central Jail. In a strongly worded press release, the general secretary of the party said: “It is blatant deception, even as the court had clearly directed the jail authorities to keep him lodged him in Srinagar Central jail.”